Read Online Lake News by Barbara Delinsky - Free Book Online Page B

the accident as she was able, she had moved into her own place on the lake and started a telephone answering service for Lake Henry andneighboring towns. Now she had state-of-the-art equipment, with sophisticated computer hookups and an increasingly large bank of phone buttons. The business had grown so fast that she even had a roster of part-timers who covered for her when she went out, which, bless her, she often did.
    She had caller ID, which enabled her to say the instant she picked up the call, “Lily! Thank goodness! What’s happening?”
    â€œNightmare,” Lily said. “Total nightmare. When did you hear?”
    â€œEarly today. People in town either read it in the Post or on the Net. Around midmorning, calls started coming in from reporters—Boston, New York, Washington, Atlanta—and then there’s the tube. They’re showing pictures—Lily and the Cardinal, Lily and the governor.”
    â€œMom saw?” Lily asked in alarm.
    â€œMom saw. Kip called yesterday to warn me about the Post guy, but he didn’t say why, so how was I supposed to know about the others? I wish you’d told us.”
    â€œHow could I? I didn’t know . I didn’t see the paper until this morning, and was as shocked as anyone. It’s a bogus story, Poppy.”
    â€œI know that, but Mom doesn’t,” Poppy said bluntly. “She’s convinced that everything she said all along is true and that it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.”
    â€œIt wasn’t —and I don’t know why it’s happening now.” She fought back tears of frustration. “I thought this reporter was a friend. He came on to me, you know, asked if I’d go out with him. Sss-stupid me. Stupid me,” she cried in self-reproach, “but he was a pro, got me talking,then pieced little phrases together to create something sordid. What kind of person does that? Okay. He doesn’t know me. To him, I’m a nothing. But the Cardinal isn’t. How can he do this to the Cardinal? Or is it just that there isn’t much else going on in the world and the papers are starved for sleaze? What did Mom say? What were the words?”
    â€œThey don’t matter,” Poppy said. “She’s just in a stir. What should I tell her?”
    Lily pressed shaky fingertips to her forehead. She had worked so hard to win her mother’s confidence. The Winchester School, where she taught, had a fine reputation. The Essex Club was as upscale as a dining establishment could be. And then there was Father Fran—ah, the irony of that! Such a strong, dignified, upstanding man. She had always thought that her friendship with him would win points with Maida.
    â€œTell her not to look at the paper,” she told Poppy. “There’s no basis to any of this. It’ll play itself out in a day or two.” It had to. The alternative was unthinkable.
    â€œHave you issued a denial?”
    â€œI keep saying it isn’t true.”
    â€œYou need a lawyer.”
    â€œI hate lawyers.”
    Poppy grew gentler. “I know, honey, but this is libel. What does the Cardinal say?”
    â€œI haven’t talked with him.” The hurt returned. “I called there and was told not to call again.”
    â€œWho told you that? They aren’t going to blame this whole thing on you, are they? Damn it, Lily, it takes two to tango. He’s the one who’s always touching people.”
    â€œBut it’s innocent.”
    â€œNot in the eyes of the press. You have a job— two jobs—to protect, and a reputation. They’ve all but labeled you a whore. If that isn’t a violation of your rights, I don’t know what is!”
    â€œBut if I hire a lawyer, that says I need a lawyer, which I don’t, since I haven’t done anything wrong. I give the story one day—stretching it, maybe two.” Lily paused, alert.